Underwater propulsion device

ABSTRACT

An underwater propulsion device having a separate housing carrying a propulsion motor and a propeller adapted to be attached to a swimmer&#39;&#39;s foot as by a shoe with power units, such as batteries or compressed gas carried by the swimmer and carrying a plurality of annular flotation rings around the periphery of the housing; the housing being hingedly attached to the swimmer&#39;&#39;s shoe for allowing the swimmer to walk on the ocean bottom or other surfaces.

ll) I United States [151 3,635,188 Rutkowski [4 1 Jan. 18, 197

[54] UNDERWATER PROPULSION DEVICE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: Joseph Rutkowski, 4345 Stacey PL, San 826,629 1/1938 France ..1l5/6.1

Diego, Calif. 92] 17 Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix [22] Filed: Aug. 8, 1969 A0mey Car] R Brown [211 App]. No.: 848,443 [57] ABSTRACT An underwater propulsion device having a separate housing [52] U.S. CI ..115/6.1 carrying a propulsion motor and a propeller adapted to be at Cl 1 1/10 363!) 35/00 tached to a swimmers foot as by a shoe with power units, such [58] Field of Search ..1 15/6.1, 70 as batteries or compressed gas carried by the swimmer and carrying a plurality of annular flotation rings around the 5 References Cited periphery of the housing; the housing being hingedly attached to the swimmers shoe for allowing the swimmer to walk on UNITED STATES PATENTS the ocean bottom or other surfaces.

3,422,787 1/1969 Rush ..l15/6.1 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED JMH 8 I972 I NVEMIOR.

JOSEPH RUTKOWSKI UNDERWATER PROPULSION DEVICE BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an underwater propulsion device and more particularly to an underwater propulsion device having propulsion units attached to each foot of a swimmer for increased mobility.

According to the invention, a pair of underwater propulsion devices each carrying a motor and a propeller is attached one to each foot of a swimmer. At least one power unit is also carried by the swimmer and coupled to the motors in the propulsion units. A housing surrounding the propulsion units carries flotation devices for floating the propulsion units should they come loose from the swimmer.

An object of the present invention is the provision of an underwater propulsion device having a propulsion unit attached to each foot of a swimmer.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an underwater propulsion device which is inexpensive to manufacture and extremely convenient in use.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the FIGS. thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention in situ;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of typical power unit mountings;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation, partially sectioned, of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the propulsion unit in phantom being held by the users leg.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Referring to FIG. 1, a swimmer is indicated generally at 11 carrying a belt 12 by his waist with power units 13 and 14 attached thereto. Propulsion units indicated generally at 16 have outer housings 17 with a plurality of flood apertures 18 and propellers 19 therein. Propellers 19 are carried by shafts 21 and are each coupled to a motor (not shown) which is powered through cables 22. Housings 17 are coupled to foot gear 23 of swimmer 11. Leg straps 24 are designed to carry the power units 16 in afolded position (FIG. 4).

Referring to FIG. 2, belt 12 is shown having an electric switch 26 attached thereto along with power units 13 and 14. A buckle 27 holds belt 12 in place.

Referring to FIG. 3, a foot gear 23 is shown having a flat mounting member 27 attached thereto which, in turn, is hingedly attached at 28 to the top 29 of housing 17. Housing 17 carries a motor 31 inside which has a rotating shaft 32 and a propeller 33. A plurality of flotation rings is shown carried by housing 17 around the periphery thereof.

Referring to FIG. 4, a propulsion unit 16 is shown in phantom coupled to a leg band 24 of swimmer ll.

OPERATION Referring now to all of the FIGS., it can be seen that propulsion units 16 being attached to each of the feet of the swimmer 11 allows for great mobility in directing the swimmer in that he may merely change his direction by moving one or both of his legs pointing the propulsion units in the desired direction of travel. It is contemplated that power units 13 and 14 will be l2-volt rechargeable dry batteries with suitable waterproof casings, but it is to be understood that they could be replaced by a compressed air bottle which, in that case, would direct gas to a pneumatic motor carried by housings 17 instead of electric motor 31. Flotation rings I5 are preferably a lightweight material such as cork to provide flotation in the event of parting of the unit from the swimmer. Electric switch 26 is preferably a three-position switch which would allow for two speed positions and an off position lending more versatility to the system. An important feature in the invention is that illustrated in FIG. 4 which allows for the: entire propulsion unit 116 to be rotated out of the way of the swimmer and held by a leg strap 24 in the event the swimmer desires to walk on the bottom of the ocean, for example, or any other flat surface.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:

I. An underwater propulsion device for propelling a swimmer in an aqueous medium comprising,

a single housing having a closed end and a substantially open end with sides having openings therethrough,

means for securing said closed end of said housing to the bottom of a swimmers foot,

a propeller positioned in said housing adjacent said open end,

and motor means mounted in said housing for supporting and rotating said propeller and moving the aqueous medium through said openings in said sides and out said open end.

2. An underwater propulsion device as claimed in claim 1 in which,

said open end has an enlarged edge surface that is substantially larger than the thickness of said sides for contacting a supporting surface and supporting said propulsion device and the swimmer.

3. An underwater propulsion device as claimed in claim 2 including,

flotation means positioned on said housing adjacent said enlarged edge surface for supporting said propulsion device when not secured to the swimmer.

4. An underwater propulsion device as claimed in claim 1 in which,

said securing means includes hinge means positioned adjacent an intersection of said closed end and said sides, on which said housing and motor and propeller can be pivoted away from a position below the swimmers foot.

5. An underwater propulsion device as claimed in claim 4 including,

a plate for being secured to the bottom of the foot of the swimmer,

and said closed end is hinged to said plate.

6. An underwater propulsion device as claimed in claim 5 including,

means secured to the leg of the swimmer for holding said housing in said pivoted way position.

* 1l t I 

1. An underwater propulsion device for propelling a swimmer in an aqueous medium comprising, a single housing having a closed end and a substantially open end with sides having openings therethrough, means for securing said closed end of said housing to the bottom of a swimmer''s foot, a propeller positioned in said housing adjacent said open end, and motor means mounted in said housing for supporting and rotating said propeller and moving the aqueous medium through said openings in said sides and out said open end.
 2. An underwater propulsion device as claimed in claim 1 in which, said open end has an enlarged edge surface that is substantially larger than the thickness of said sides for contacting a supporting surface and supporting said propulsion device and the swimmer.
 3. An underwater propulsion device as claimed in claim 2 including, flotation means positioned on said housing adjacent said enlarged edge surface for supporting said propulsion device when not secured to the swimmer.
 4. An underwater propulsion device as claimed in claim 1 in which, said securing means includes hinge means positioned adjacent an intersection of said closed end and said sides, on which said housing and motor and propeller can be pivoted away from a position below the swimmer''s foot.
 5. An underwater propulsion device as claimed in claim 4 including, a plate for being secured to the bottom of the foot of the swimmer, and said closed end is hinged to said plate.
 6. An underwater propulsion device as claimed in claim 5 including, means secured to the leg of the swimmer for holding said housing in said pivoted way position. 